he Hohenort Gate. He knows us both,
and will let us pass. I'll speak to him. Is the farm-house far inside the
village?"

"No, outside on the road to Leyden."

"Well then, we'll meet at Aquanus's tavern at four o'clock."

"But the young lady--"

"It will be time enough, if she learns at the gate who is to accompany
her."

When Georg came to the tavern at the appointed hour, he learned that
Henrica had received another letter from Nicolas. It had been given to
the outposts by the Junker himself, and contained only the words "Until
midnight, the Spanish watch-word is 'Lepanto.' Your father shall know
to-day, that Anna is here."

After the departure from the Hohenort Gate had been fixed for nine
o'clock in the evening, Georg went to Captain Van der Laen and the
commandant Van der Does, received from the former the discharge he
requested, and from Janus a letter to his friend, Admiral Boisot. When he
informed his men, that he intended to leave the city and make his way to
the Beggars, they declared they would follow, and live or die with him.
It was with difficulty that he succeeded in restraining them. Before the
town-hall he slackened his pace. The burgomaster was always to be found
there at this hour. Should he quit the city without taking leave of him?
No, no! And yet--since yesterday he had forfeited the right to look
frankly into his eyes. He was afraid to meet him, it seemed as if he were
completely estranged from him. So Georg rushed past the town-hall, and
said defiantly: "Even if I leave him without a farewell, I owe him
nothing; for I must pay for his kindness with cruel suffering, perhaps
death. Maria loved me first, and what she is, and was, and ever will be
to me, she shall know before I go."

He returned to his room at twilight, asked the manservant to carry his
knapsack to Captain Van Duivenvoorde at the Hohenort Gate, and then went,
with his little book in his doublet, to the main building to take leave
of Maria. He ascended the staircase slowly and paused in the upper entry.

The beating of his heart almost stopped his breath. He did not know at
which door to knock, and a torturing dread overpowered him, so that he
stood for several minutes as if paralyzed. Then he summoned up his
courage, shook himself, and muttered: "Have I become a coward!" With
these words he opened the door leading into the dining-room and entered.
Adrian was sitting at the empty table, beside a burning torch, with some
books